PCB ignores umpires on ICC panel

Karachi, Jan 24: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday ignored its umpires on International Cricket Council (ICC) panel for the home series against Sri Lanka.

Riazuddin and Athar Zaidi, who were promoted to the ICC ranks last year, have not been posted for any of the three one-day internationals and three Tests to be played between Feb 13 and March 18.

One wonders if the two will get international postings in future after being ousted from the panel of umpires from domestic international matches.

Instead, the PCB decided to give exposure to two former Test and three ex-first-class cricketers who will be making their international debuts.

Sadiq Mohammad, who represented Pakistan in 41 Tests, and Nadeem Ghauri, who played a Test against Australia on the 1989-90 tour, have been appointed as umpires in the one-day internationals.

Three former first-class cricketers, who will stand in one-day matches, include Kamal Merchant, Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar.

Besides, the PCB has appointed Salim Badar who served as ICC umpire until last year.

The most interesting part is that the PCB had sought a medical certificate from Sadiq Mohammad after the domestic teams questioned his hearing abilities. Sadiq was told to undergo hearing and eyesight tests.

Nadeem made its first-class umpiring debut this season and has only stood in a handful of matches. Similar is the background and experience of Asad and Aleem. Kamal Merchant made his debut as umpire last season.

The chairman of the PCB Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia said from Mangla that Sadiq Mohammad and Kamal Merchant will stand in the first one-day international at Karachi on Feb 13, Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar in the second one-dayer at Gujranwala on Feb 16 and Nadeem Ghauri and Shakeel Khan in the last match on Feb 19 at Qadhafi Stadium.

He added that the Tests will be supervized by Mian Aslam (Rawalpindi), Nazir Junior (Peshawar) and Salim Badar (Karachi) alongwith ICC umpires.

Television umpires are: Shakeel Khan (Karachi one-dayer), Mian Aslam (Gujranwala one-dayer), Sadiq Mohammad (Lahore one-dayer), Siddiq Khan (Rawalpindi Test), Ikram Rabbani (Peshawar Test) and Afzal Ahmad (Karachi Test).

The PCB chief said former New Zealand batsman Brian Hastings will be the ICC match referee.